More Palestinians Die in Rafah as UN Security Council 'Condemns' Israel
- Author: News Agencies
- Publish date:20/05/2004
- Section:WORLD HEADLINES
At least five Palestinians were killed on Thursday in two separate incidents as Israeli troops moved into a new neighborhood in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on the third day of a massive military offensive, witnesses and Israeli sources said.
Palestinian doctors said two Palestinians were killed by Israeli tank shells before daybreak Thursday near the Egyptian border in the southern Gaza Strip. One of the victims was identified as Mahmoud Najib al Akhras.
Earlier on Thursday, Palestinian sources reported that three men were killed by an Israeli helicopter missile near the frontier. Two other men were said wounded in the attack. Israel said the helicopter fired at "gunmen" approaching Israeli forces. The dead were identified as Yusuf Muhammed al Maghari, 22, Mahmoud Mustafa Dib, 22 and Hamed Yassin Bahloul, 18.
Israeli forces also destroyed a four-story building in the camp belonging to Islamic Jihad leader Nafez Azzam and a small Islamic sports club, residents said.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution early Thursday calling on Israel to stop the demolition of Palestinian homes and condemning the killing of Palestinian civilians near the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.
The final vote was 14-0, with U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham abstaining.
The resolution expresses grave concern at "the recent demolition of homes committed by Israel, the occupying power, in the Rafah refugee camp." It "calls on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law and insists, in particular, on its obligation not to undertake demolition of homes contrary to that law."
The White House early Thursday criticized Israel over its military actions in the Gaza Strip, saying they do not "serve the purposes of peace and security."
"While we believe that Israel has the right to act to defend itself and its citizens, we do not see that its operations in Gaza in the last few days serve the purposes of peace and security," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
"They have worsened the humanitarian situation and resulted in confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians, and have not, we believe, enhanced Israel's security," he added.
**PHOTO CAPTION***
A wounded Palestinian baby is carried to hospital during an Israeli raid at the Rafah refugee camp southern Gaza Strip May 20, 2004. (REUTERS)